Is your gear ratio an ego trip?

2:1; The magic gear ratio. If your really a strong heads-up kinda single speeder, then you ride 2:1. I've seen posters claim they ride 2:1 and ride anywhere, "Yep, I've never seen a hill I can't climb with a 2:1". Well that's were I started. Then I finally dropped down to a 34:18 when I switched to a 34 tooth chain ring and couldn't find a ready supply of cheap 17T cogs; I did feel guilty though. Now I switched to a 175mm crank and I'm struggling to get up some of the steeper climbs I used to clear. Granted I been sick for about three months and I'm finally getting strong; yes, I finally cleaned the wall at Nisene Marks (the one past Sand Point) for the first time in six months. I also discovered it is better to be out of shape then overtrained; the later takes more time to recover from.

Anyway I digress, but I've been thinking about dropping another cog tooth because if the shorter crank arms. But would I be wimping out? I used to ride 32:16, then 34:18/32:17, and now I'm looking at 32:18. Since I seem to be getting stronger I'll probably stick with the 32:17 for a while. But back on point, do you take pride in your gear ratio? If you lower your gear ratio does than mean you're wimping out or getting weak?

Oh BTW, I be showing my latest SS conversion probably tomorrow. My buddy gave me his old 1983 Trek 022 to convert; if the frame was a little smaller it probably would have tragically been stolen It really turned out nice.

I have no pride in my gear ratio. 32:18. I struggle up the steeps. If I ever get to ride 2:1 ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE I will be a happy man. Most dudes that I have met that can ride 2:1 over some gnarly terrain are pretty humble and cool about it.

Quite possibly the slowest single speeder on earth.
Now skating 'cause its cheaper.

2:1; The magic gear ratio. If your really a strong heads-up kinda single speeder, then you ride 2:1. I've seen posters claim they ride 2:1 and ride anywhere, "Yep, I've never seen a hill I can't climb with a 2:1". Well that's were I started. Then I finally dropped down to a 34:18 when I switched to a 34 tooth chain ring and couldn't find a ready supply of cheap 17T cogs; I did feel guilty though. Now I switched to a 175mm crank and I'm struggling to get up some of the steeper climbs I used to clear. Granted I been sick for about three months and I'm finally getting strong; yes, I finally cleaned the wall at Nisene Marks (the one past Sand Point) for the first time in six months. I also discovered it is better to be out of shape then overtrained; the later takes more time to recover from.

Anyway I digress, but I've been thinking about dropping another cog tooth because if the shorter crank arms. But would I be wimping out? I used to ride 32:16, then 34:18/32:17, and now I'm looking at 32:18. Since I seem to be getting stronger I'll probably stick with the 32:17 for a while. But back on point, do you take pride in your gear ratio? If you lower your gear ratio does than mean you're wimping out or getting weak?

Oh BTW, I be showing my latest SS conversion probably tomorrow. My buddy gave me his old 1983 Trek 022 to convert; if the frame was a little smaller it probably would have tragically been stolen It really turned out nice.

1G1G, Brad

I know what you're saying. Who the heck came up with 2:1 as a benchmark ratio anyway? People always tell beginning SS'ers to start with 2:1 and adjust accordingly, but I bet that gear is too high for most first-timers who live anywhere near a mountain.

I know what you're saying. Who the heck came up with 2:1 as a benchmark ratio anyway? People always tell beginning SS'ers to start with 2:1 and adjust accordingly, but I bet that gear is too high for most first-timers who live anywhere near a mountain.

I have no pride in my gear ratio. 32:18. I struggle up the steeps. If I ever get to ride 2:1 ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE I will be a happy man. Most dudes that I have met that can ride 2:1 over some gnarly terrain are pretty humble and cool about it.

Same here, 32:18. I was running 36:21 for a while, but that was a bit too spinny for me.

I'm not a strong enough rider to pull off 2:1 if there are any hills involved. I have a hard enough time cleaning the Nike site road at China Camp at 32:18 with 175mm cranks.

32 18

32:18, in out valley thats about the standard, I think that it is about the best, I have gone to fruita and it does about the best all around as well. Besides, single speeding is about simplicity and being modest, "I can run only one gear and beat most geared people, but I will only race for the hell of it",if you are bragging about what gear ratio you are running, your kinda mising the point.

no

i run a 32:20 and i don't care what others think of it. my gig is being able to clean the tech sections of the climbs, that's what makes me happy. so what if i wind out a little sooner on the flats, like a couple of teeth make that big of a difference there anyway...

My ego is so big that I don't know where to put it. I'm so proud of being able to ride 32:20, kidding aside why care about what ratios others ride on.

I started 34:17 and then changed to 32:18 and currently run 32:20 and habe been thinking of moving to a 22 for logetivity. I may do a solo SS 24hr race and last year I did it 32:20 and by night fall I was beat, that's why I'm considering a 22 to change ratios during the race.

I swap around a lot

We have a quite a few trails locally in Charlotte that are gently rolling or they just have short, spiky climbs. I always run 34X17 locally. Take me to the mtns and I will run a 34X19 if I run my UST wheels. If I am going to the mtns with a bunch of long travel riders I will put on my Singletracks with 2.6 Stickees and run 34X20. 12-24 hour race? 34X19. Off Road Assault on Mt Mitchell with 13,000 feet of climbing in 55 miles? 34X18. Trans Rockies? I figure I will be all over the place depending on the days terrain.
I know that horizontals, V's, and freewheels aren't that hard to work with, but I knew I would be swapping gears a lot when I bought my SS. An EBB and cassette style wheel makes gear changes a 10 minute process, so I take advantage of it.
Any pride in my gear ratio selection? Not really. I try to pick the gear that is most appropriate for the ride to attain whatever my goal is for the day, be it fun or racing. I guess if I am racing and I have a good day then I am proud that I picked the right gear. It took me quite awhile to assemble my cog collection. It is hard to chunk down $120 bucks to cover all the bases. I would love to borrow my friend's 23 T Endless Kick Ass cog some day. I am not willing to pay for an experiment, but it might be a lot of fun in the mountains.
My incoherent thought flow of the morning is over. Time to ride.

When I started SS I ran 32x18 and 32x20 depending on the trail... then I switched to a 34 crank... kept the same gears. This year when I went with a different crank again the front switched to 36 teeth and I bought a 19 and 21 tooth cog to try to keep it close... I've been riding the 19 tooth cog all the time and I was just thinking of switching to a 18 on the back for the flat local trails... I'm not sure why - I don't feel stronger. I'm definitely not fast.... so no ego here...

It's not the size of the cog that matters.. it's the pain you put into the drivetrain

I'm an old fart what lives in the hills. Thought I'd start at 32:20, and loose teeth as I got older, er, I mean, stronger. But... I'm using a freewheel instead of a cassette (not so easy to swap out), and it just so happens that there are plenty of climbs here on my local trails (Gap Mountain) that I can't yet clean. In fact, I'll be switching to 180's soon from 172's to get an edge on some rock garden ascents that freak me out. As far as spinning out on the flats....well, there aren't too many flats here, so it doesn't really factor in very much. As far as other folks I encounter on the trail, I generally use a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, so we can all be discrete about it.

Nope

Lower is better

I started out with 36:18 for a couple of years and have switched to 36:20 for the majority of my riding. The local in town loop is really easy with the gearing but just outside of town(10 min ride) the soil changes to very soft sand and the 36:20 is a better choice. I find the lower gearing is better for techy uphills where you almost stall after an obstacle and have no speed for the rest of the hill. Also when riding with geared riders I find I can out climb them when I am in the lead but if I get stuck behind one the lower gear allows me to regulate my speed better. I went to Jasper (Canada) to ride a couple of weeks ago and friends were asking if I was going to change my gearing. I stuck with 36:20 and it worked great. Sure the climbs were longer and more technical but the soil is more hard packed. I also find the easier gearing better for my back. I was really straining it to push the 2:1 especially in the deep sand trying to keep rear wheel traction. The lower gear allows me to ride comfortable over longer distances and that makes it riding more enjoyable.

I think I did two rides on the stock 36x18. Then I mounted a 34T ring. Soon after a 20T FW went on. Then a 32T ring. Found a 22T FW and the 36 was remounted before I settled on 34x20 for 95% of my rides.

Out at Bootleg Canyon outside of Vegas, I've ridden 36x18, 34x18, 32x18 and 32x20...in that order While I can admit I've ridden the same hills on the 36x18 and the 32x20, the 32x20 is just easier on my bloody knees, especially since I ride a 48x15 on my fixed road-bike everywhere else (and have to stop it with that gear, too).

Impressions...I'm certainly slower up the hills and everywhere else on the 32x20 than I was on a 36x18 or even the 32x18. Spinning didn't help me ride any faster...but as mentioned above, it makes the knees feel oh-so-much better

Not afraid to admit...

...that I do think about this a LITTLE bit. =)

I run 34 x 18 or 19t depending on what type of riding I am doing. I ran 34x17 for about 1 week and realized that while I liked the overal brute power and speed on fire road climbs, it hurt to much for daily use. Also made tech-y stuff difficult to clear.

I tried racing Sea Otter on a 17 as well, but I paid for it by walking up the steep hills on the second lap. After that experience I was completely over 2-1.

Ended up on a 19 for a while because it's easier to ride stuff, but switched back to the 18 for today's ride because I wanted to hammer and felt like I was getting soft. Heh. Getting soft on the SS. That's a laugh!

Ego intact.

So, I've never ridden the SS past Pig Trail. Today your post motivated me to do it. Right now I'm using 34/20 on 29 inch wheels which is about the same gear inches as your setup. Cleaned the wall and rode up to Santa Rosalita. My ego will make me try 34/17 on 29inch wheels, since that is the next freewheel I have.
Dan C.

no ego

It's just something practical (33x20) that lets me do everything on our trails - make every tech climb (on a good day), ratchet through rock gardens, climb fireroads - even sitting down on the easier climbs, and maintain a decent flat land speed.

I've been running 36:20 for quite a while. Its fast enough for any trail around here, and comfy on the hills. I've even done 40 mile paved rides with it- they were spiny, but entirely bearable given that the ride was for fun, not elpased time.

36-18 on my SS which is a 23.5 lb bike, so that helps....I've come accross one steep section I have not yet cleared(long and drawn out), but when I am doing climbs followed by long tech descents I've been riding my brand new geary (rockhopper pro with pike)

34X14 - nope, not bragging

I run 34x14 locally (with 175 cranks) once I'm in shape, which obviously is pretty flat. Still there are a few hills and yes they are painful, and yes there are technical sections that I can't quite clean with this ratio. But I like it because it keeps me struggling and I feel it makes me stronger. Plus I can really steamroll on the flats, which I like. Also it helps to prepare and condition me for hillier trails, all I need to do is put a 17-18t cog or so on the back before riding them, and it feels like like a granny gear after riding the 34x14 all the time.

Another factor is each rider's natural propensity for mashing or spinning. Personally I'm more of a masher so I gravitate toward a taller gear, but nothing wrong with going lower if you're a better spinner. Cog/ring combos have nothing to do with ego, just use what works for you and enjoy the ride!

2:1; The magic gear ratio. If your really a strong heads-up kinda single speeder, then you ride 2:1. I've seen posters claim they ride 2:1 and ride anywhere, "Yep, I've never seen a hill I can't climb with a 2:1". Well that's were I started. Then I finally dropped down to a 34:18 when I switched to a 34 tooth chain ring and couldn't find a ready supply of cheap 17T cogs; I did feel guilty though. Now I switched to a 175mm crank and I'm struggling to get up some of the steeper climbs I used to clear. Granted I been sick for about three months and I'm finally getting strong; yes, I finally cleaned the wall at Nisene Marks (the one past Sand Point) for the first time in six months. I also discovered it is better to be out of shape then overtrained; the later takes more time to recover from.

Anyway I digress, but I've been thinking about dropping another cog tooth because if the shorter crank arms. But would I be wimping out? I used to ride 32:16, then 34:18/32:17, and now I'm looking at 32:18. Since I seem to be getting stronger I'll probably stick with the 32:17 for a while. But back on point, do you take pride in your gear ratio? If you lower your gear ratio does than mean you're wimping out or getting weak?

Oh BTW, I be showing my latest SS conversion probably tomorrow. My buddy gave me his old 1983 Trek 022 to convert; if the frame was a little smaller it probably would have tragically been stolen It really turned out nice.

1G1G, Brad

34x18 here (on pretty hilly terrain).

and, as far as i'm concerned just riding a ss qualifies for an ego boost.

rt

"where are you not going so fast?" (question asked to cyclist on a trainer)

31:20

Boy do I feel like a wimp riding my 31:20 gear around! I started out with 32:18, and quickly geared down. This is my first year riding SS, and most of my rides are very hilly and rooty/rocky. There is really only one section of trail where I have spun out because my gearing was too low, and there is one hill that I am still not even close to making, so it sounds about right me. I do have 18 and 22 tooth cogs in my parts box, as well as various chainring sizes should I feel the need to switch.

Personally- yes.

I run the stock 38:16 (never knew what ratio I was running until a friend told me)on the BUSS (sprung) and live and do the majority of riding above 8000 feet in Colorado, is it an ego thing....hell yes (to me personally). Would I brag about it to any of you face to face....hell no. I still get taken to school by friends riding *easier* gears ratios. Gear ratio is all in your head if you ask me, which no one has. I just got a Unit (rigid) and honestly, other than knowing it's not 38:16 I have no idea what it is but it feels slower to me on the climbs. But yeah, it's *personally gratifing* running that ratio on the trails I ride.

gears, gears, gears...

...same as some = i am also running a 32/20...that is what i started with 10 months ago...
also, 32t is the largest chainring i can run using my current bashguard setup - so i got used to it! also, i can ride about any trail in my area that i used to ride my Geared-FS bike up, so it works for me, i ride 5 - 6 times a week and NEVER have fresh legs, so maybe running this slightly lighter ratio helps me out on days when i really need it, which is MOST!!!

Why yes! I'm pround to run a low gear!

On my 29"er I run 34x22 (same as 34x20 on a 26") about 95% of the time. For real mountain bike rides it still goes as fast as I need it to. Thanks to my cassette hub I also have 34x20 available for flatter rides, but I rarely use it. If I need to go faster, I'll ride my geared 29"er with semislicks.

I might even go lower than 34x22. I've been thinking about getting a 23t Endless cog to experiment with.

"People like GloyBoy are deaf. They are partisan, intellectually lazy & usually very angry." -Jaybo

i'm quite content with the 20t. a bit spinny on some rides, but means i can do some of the higher up things easier. plus, i hate changing things, i'm lazy, and just leave it that way.
not being a full time SSer (still ride the geared bikes waaaay more offroad) i find i need that lower ratio. and for most of my riding, i prefer the geo/beefyiness of my geared hardtail over the much lighter built up SS. i save the SS for longer/higher/not going to be bouncing off as much stuff kinda rides. mmmmmm, kenosha pass is my fav SS ride so far!

34/17 for now

Not because I'm a bad a$$, its because i got the boone17t from a friend at a good price. 96.432% of the time I wish I had a 19t. I now am looking for a 19t too. No way in Hell would I run 2:1 at the Soul Ride.

Soul

Originally Posted by scanjok

Not because I'm a bad a$$, its because i got the boone17t from a friend at a good price. 96.432% of the time I wish I had a 19t. I now am looking for a 19t too. No way in Hell would I run 2:1 at the Soul Ride.

I run 36-20 because that was the magic gear on the bike I built. I'd laugh at anybody trying to run 2:1 in Southern California, they'd be walking A LOT. Most trails here are a straight up straight down proposition with a few exceptions.

Clean this on a 2:1, I dare ya.(900 ft in about a 1/2 mile, do the math)

Okay I wimped out..possessed wife?

Originally Posted by aka brad

Anyway I digress, but I've been thinking about dropping another cog tooth because of the shorter crank arms (175 vs 180). But would I be wimping out? I used to ride 32:16, then 34:18/32:17, and now I'm looking at 32:18.

1G1G, Brad

After yesterday's ride I realized I will not be in 32:17 shape for my North Star race at the end of the month so I threw on the 18 cog. My wife just shook her head and said "Why don't you just ride a geared bike?" Do you think she's possessed?

OK...I am in and can't turn back now. Just finished building my first SS. I have been riding my FS in what I thought was a 32:16 on the local climb....(9 miles-1600ft) not to difficult,with two good pulls, just to see if it was doable. I rode it twice and thought it wasn't too bad. Standing on the pulls. I pulled the casette to install on another wheel set and to my suprise I found I was riding in a 32:18.....SO.....woke up early this morning, couldn't sleep thinking about my gear ratio. I've been told of the 2:1 ratio and that is what I set up my SS with. 32:16. Like I said, now I'm in and in a hour or so I will know if 32:16 is for me. I will report back after my first ride.

OK...I am in and can't turn back now. Just finished building my first SS. I have been riding my FS in what I thought was a 32:16 on the local climb....(9 miles-1600ft) not to difficult,with two good pulls, just to see if it was doable. I rode it twice and thought it wasn't too bad. Standing on the pulls. I pulled the casette to install on another wheel set and to my suprise I found I was riding in a 32:18.....SO.....woke up early this morning, couldn't sleep thinking about my gear ratio. I've been told of the 2:1 ratio and that is what I set up my SS with. 32:16. Like I said, now I'm in and in a hour or so I will know if 32:16 is for me. I will report back after my first ride.